Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics, on Friday made a very significant statement in Guwahati, one that, if it really comes true, will bring a bunch of long-term benefits for Assam. According to him, once the semiconductor project coming up at Jagiroad becomes operational, it will produce ‘Made in India’ chips that would find their way to various parts of the world, including Germany and the US. Jagiroad, according to the Union Minister, is part of the Central Government’s commitment to transforming India into a leading hub for semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. Given this future scenario, the country in general and projects like the one coming up at Jagiroad would require a big skilled workforce that meets the evolving demands of the industry. The question before Assam, and particularly before the educational institutions, is whether the state is taking the necessary steps to motivate a large number of young people right from the high school stage to meet this demand. While the Union Minister has announced the establishment of the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) at Jagiroad—it already has a temporary campus in Guwahati—to provide technology education alongside the semiconductor project, the primary responsibility, however, lies with the Government of Assam in general and the education department in particular, to create the right kind of environment to encourage a large number of young people to look at the semiconductor industry as their future.